Cap for containers

ABSTRACT

The invention refers to a cap for containers for holding a mixture to be produced from two components, having a cylinder ( 5 ) with an open end and an end closed by a partition ( 6 ) which can be perforated, a piston ( 1 ) having a gripping piece ( 2 ) of larger design than the cylinder diameter being inserted into the open end of the cylinder, such that a first chamber (K 1 ) having a height (h) is formed between a lower side (KU) of the piston lying opposite the gripping piece ( 2 ) and the partition ( 6 ), characterized in that two incisions ( 7 ) extending from the open end of the cylinder and lying opposite each other are provided in the cylinder wall, and in that the gripping piece ( 2 ) is designed in such a manner that it can be displaced in the incisions ( 7 ) in order to move the piston ( 1 ) in the direction of the partition ( 6 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a cap for a container in accordance with thepreamble of Claim 1. It furthermore relates to a container according toClaim 14.

A cap of this type is disclosed in DE 27 09 826 C2. The known cap hasthe disadvantage that the piston provided in the cap is unintentionallypressed in the direction of a container receptacle or receptacle and, asa result, a partition, which separates a first chamber situated in thecap from a second chamber essentially enclosed by the receptacle, isdestroyed. A first component held in the first chamber can thereforeunintentionally come into contact with a second component held in thesecond chamber. The mixture produced in the process either hardensrapidly or can only be kept for a short period.

In order to counteract this disadvantage, it is disclosed in EP 0 217425 to provide the cap with an overcap. The provision of a specialovercap is complicated.

Furthermore, a container for separately holding and for mixing twosubstances is disclosed in CH 485 566. In this case, a cavity providedin a lid is filled with a liquid. The cavity is closed by means of adisplaceable stopper which has a capillary hole pointing towards thereceptacle. Displacement of this stopper causes the liquid to be pressedthrough the capillary hole into the receptacle.—If the receptaclecontains a dried or hygroscopic powder, liquid penetrates through thecapillary hole into the vessel. This may lead to premature compaction ordestruction of the powder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantages ofthe prior art. The intention, in particular, is to provide a cap for acontainer for holding a two-component mixture, and a container, whichcap/container is of simple construction and by means of which anunintentional bringing of the two components into contact can beavoided.

This object is achieved by the features of Claims 1 and 14. Expedientrefinements emerge from the features of Claims 2 to 13 and 15 to 18.

The invention makes provision for two incisions, extending from the openend and lying opposite each other, to be provided in the cylinder wall,and for the gripping piece to be designed in such a manner that it canbe displaced in the incisions in order to move the piston in thedirection of the partition. As a result, unintentional pressing in ofthe piston in the direction of the partition can be reliably avoided.The cap can namely only be pressed down if the gripping piece haspreviously been brought, by rotation, into alignment with the incisions.The proposed cap can be produced in a simple manner.

According to one refinement feature, the height is smaller than or equalto the length of the incisions. This enables the piston to be presseddown until it bears against the partition. Complete emptying of thefirst chamber is therefore ensured.

The gripping piece can be of plate like design. This facilitates axialrotation of the piston in order to bring the gripping piece intoalignment with the incisions.

A means for piercing the partition can be provided on the piston lowerside. The means in this case is preferably a lance. However, the meansfor piercing can also be formed by a beveled piston section.

In order to ensure a particularly good seal between the piston and thecylinder inner wall, a radially encircling, flexible sealing means, suchas a sealing lip or an O-ring, can be provided on the piston.

The piston and the gripping piece advantageously have an axial passage.The first chamber can be filled through this duct.

It is of advantage in terms of production to produce the piston in anintegral design with the gripping piece and/or the means for piercingand/or the sealing lip from injection-molded plastic.

The gripping piece and the cylinder are expediently connected to abridge which can be severed and is preferably produced from plastic. Thebridge may also be replaced by a stuck-on securing label. It can therebybe ensured in a simple manner that the components held in the chamberscorrespond to the original components put in by the manufacturer. Anunnoticed, subsequent manipulation, for example an exchange of thecomponents, is therefore made impossible.

A radially encircling, flange-like web is preferably provided on theouter wall of the cylinder. The web serves as a stop when inserting thecap into the neck of a cylindrical container. A plurality of groovesrunning axially can be provided on the outer wall of the cylinder. Thegrooves are designed in their axial extent in such a manner that withthe cylinder pushed completely into the container up to the web, thesecond chamber is closed in a leaktight manner.

According to a further refinement feature, extensions having latchinglugs for engagement in recesses provided on the incisions can beattached to the gripping piece. With the piston pushed completely intothe cylinder, the cylinder can therefore be removed from the containerby pulling on the gripping piece.

A container having a cap according to the invention is furthermoreprovided, the container having a receptacle of essentially cylindricaldesign, and the cap being inserted in a sealing manner into thereceptacle, with the result that the partition closes a second chamberformed in the receptacle.

With the container, an unintentional bringing of the substances held init into contact is reliably avoided. The container can be producedsimply and cost-effectively.

The opening edge of the receptacle is advantageously designed in theform of two helical sections placed against each other in each case bymeans of a shoulder. The pitch of the helical sections or the height ofthe shoulders is expediently identical. A cylinder inserted into thereceptacle slides by means of the projections extending radiallytherefrom in the vicinity of the incisions when the helical sections arerotated. The cylinder is thereby displaced axially with regard to thereceptacle. This facilitates the removal of the cylinder from thereceptacle.

According to a further refinement feature, the receptacle has a first,essentially cylindrical section, a conical section and a secondcylindrical section adjoining the latter. Such a design of thereceptacle is suitable in particular for holding substances which are tobe freeze dried in the receptacle before it is closed.

The conical section of the receptacle is advantageously of a shape whichcorresponds to a conically designed end of the cylinder in the vicinityof the partition. Particularly good leak-tightness of the container isthereby achieved.

A plurality of grooves running axially can be provided on the inner wallof the receptacle, preferably in the region of the first cylindricalsection. The said grooves make it possible for air to enter into thereceptacle as the cylinder is being pulled out. The buildup of anegative pressure is thereby counteracted.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detailbelow. Herein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a piston of a firstembodiment,

FIG. 2 shows a plan view according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a cylinder of the firstembodiment,

FIG. 4 shows a plan view according to FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a container having acap according to the first embodiment, the piston being located in afirst position,

FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view according to FIG. 5, thepiston being located in a second position,

FIG. 7 shows a side view of a piston of a second embodiment,

FIG. 8 shows a second side view according to FIG. 7,

FIG. 9 shows a plan view according to FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a cylinder of thesecond embodiment,

FIG. 11 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a container accordingto the second embodiment,

FIG. 12 shows a first cross-sectional view of a piston of a thirdembodiment,

FIG. 13 shows a second cross-sectional view of the piston according toFIG. 12,

FIG. 14 shows a plan view according to FIG. 12,

FIG. 15 shows a first cross-sectional view of a cylinder of the thirdembodiment,

FIG. 16 shows a second cross-sectional view according to FIG. 15,

FIG. 17 shows a plan view according to FIG. 15,

FIG. 18 shows a first cross-sectional view through a receptacle of thethird embodiment,

FIG. 19 shows a second cross-sectional view according to FIG. 18,

FIG. 20 shows a plan view according to FIG. 18, and

FIG. 21 shows a first cross-sectional view through a container accordingto the third embodiment, and

FIG. 22 shows a second cross-sectional view according to FIG. 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A first embodiment is represented in FIGS. 1-6.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-section through a piston 1 produced frominjection molded plastic. A gripping piece is molded onto a piston upperside and a lance 3 onto a piston lower side KU, in an integral design.The lance 3 is attached to the piston lower side KU in a non-concentricarrangement, i.e. the lance axis LA does not correspond with the pistonaxis KA.

As emerges from FIGS. 1 and 2, the gripping piece 2 is of plate-likedesign. It has a width b1. The piston 1 and the gripping piece 2 are cutthrough by a passage 4.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-section through a cylinder 5 producedintegrally from injection-molded plastic. The cylinder 5 has a closedend which is closed by a partition 6 which can be perforated. Twoincisions 7 lying opposite each other and of identical length 1 areprovided in the cylinder wall at the opposite, open end. The width b2 ofthe incisions 7 is larger than the width b1 of the gripping piece 2. Aradially encircling, flange like web 8 extends from the outer cylinderwall. The opposing arrangement of the incisions 7 emerges clearly onceagain from the plan view shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 illustrates a container having a cap schematically incross-section. A receptacle 9 produced from injection-molded plastic isshaped in a similar manner to a test tube. It has an encircling bead 10on its opening. The cylinder 5 is inserted into the receptacle 9 in sucha manner that the web 8 bears against the bead 10.—The web 8 may have aprojection (not shown here) which, when the web 8 bears against the bead10, grips behind the latter, so that the cylinder 5 latches to thereceptacle 9.

The piston 1 is inserted into the cylinder 5. The gripping piece 2 has alarger diameter than the cylinder 5. It bears against the uppercircumferential edge of the open end of the cylinder 5, specifically atthe location in which incisions 7 are not provided. In this firstposition, the piston 1 cannot be pressed down in the direction of thepartition 6. A plastic bridge 11 connects the gripping piece 2 to thecylinder 5. It fixes the gripping piece 2 in a position in which it isnot aligned with the incisions 7 and therefore cannot be pressed down. Afirst chamber K1 having a height h is formed between the piston lowerside KU and the partition 6. The receptacle 9 and the partition 6surround a second chamber K2.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view according to FIG. 5, the piston 1being located in a second, pressed down position. The gripping piece 2is aligned with the incisions 7. The said gripping piece has beenpressed down against the partition 6 by the length 1. The lance 3pierces the partition 6. The piston lower side KU bears against thepierced partition 6. The volume of the first chamber K1 is completelyfilled by the piston 1.

FIGS. 7-11 show a second embodiment. In this case, a beveled pistonsection 12 is provided on the piston lower side KU for piercing thepartition 6. Two extensions 13, on the ends of which two latching lugs14 are provided in each case, extend axially from the gripping piece 2in the direction of the piston lower side KU. The incisions 7 providedon the cylinder 5 shown in FIG. 10 are provided with recesses 15 whichcan be gripped from behind for engagement of the latching lugs 14.

FIG. 11 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the second embodiment.The receptacle 9 has, in the vicinity of its opening, a section 16having an enlarged diameter. Grooves 17 running axially are provided onthe inner wall of the section 16, the said grooves extending from theopening as far as into the vicinity of the end of the section 16.

In the third exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 to 22, the piston 1has, on its piston lower side KU, a beveled piston section 12. Thepiston lower side KU is of conically tapering design. Two firstencircling sealing lips are denoted by the reference number 20.

The cylinder 5 has a rectangular holder 18 bounded by an encirclingwall. In a suitable position, the gripping piece 2 can be pressed downinto the holder 18.

Projections 19 are molded onto the lower side of the holder 18. Theshape of the cylinder interior is designed corresponding to the shape ofthe piston 1, so that with the piston 1 pushed completely into thecylinder, the cylinder interior is completely filled. Encircling, secondsealing lips molded onto the outer wall of the cylinder 5 are denoted by21. Instead of the sealing lips provided here, an O-ring held in agroove can also be provided.

The receptacle 9 shown in FIGS. 18 to 20 consists of a first,essentially cylindrical section A1 on whose inner wall grooves 17running axially are provided. A2 denotes a second, conically taperingsection which is adjoined by a second, cylindrical section A3 whosediameter is smaller than that of the first cylindrical section A1. Theopening edge of the receptacle 9 is designed in the form of two helicalsections W1, W2 which each extend over a circumferential section ofapproximately 180°. The helical sections W1, W2 are separated by ashoulder As whose height corresponds to half the pitch of a completehelical turn.

FIGS. 21 and 22 show the container as a whole. The cylinder 5 bears, bymeans of its end located in the vicinity of the partition 6, in apositive locking manner against the inner wall of the conical section A2of the receptacle 9. The projections 19 are seated on the helicalsections W1 and W2.

The functioning of the container is as follows:

After the receptacle 9 is filled with a defined quantity, for example 30μl of a second component, the cap is placed on. The receptacle 9 istherefore sealed in a leak tight manner.

The first chamber K1 of the cap is filled with a first component, forexample through the passage 4. The passage 4 is then closed.—It isequally possible to fill the first chamber K1 before the cap is placedonto the container 9.

In order to produce a mixture consisting of the first and secondcomponents, the user rotates the gripping piece 2 about approximately90°, so that it is aligned with the incisions 7. In the process, theplastic bridge 11 is clearly and perceptively severed. The grippingpiece 2 is then pressed down against the partition 6. As this happens,the lance 3 or the piston section 12 pierces the partition 6, and underthe action of the piston 1 the first component is pressed completelyinto the second chamber K2. The mixture formed can be removed from thereceptacle 9 by removing the cap.

In the second embodiment, with the piston 1 pressed down completely, thelatching lugs 14 grip behind the recesses 15 (not illustrated here).Pulling on the gripping piece 2 therefore enables the piston 1 to bewithdrawn together with the cylinder 5 in order to open the container 9.

When the piston 1 has not been completely inserted into the section 16of the receptacle 9, the grooves 17 form a connection from the secondchamber K2 to the environment. Water vapor formed, for example whenfreeze-drying a component placed into the second chamber K2, can escapefrom the second chamber K2 through the grooves 17. After thefreeze-drying process, the second chamber K2 can be closed in aleak-tight manner by completely pushing the cylinder 5 into the section16.

In the third exemplary embodiment, the cylinder 5 can be gripped on theholder 18 and rotated in the clockwise direction in order to open thecontainer. The extensions 19 then slide over the helical sections W1,W2. The cylinder 5 is moved axially with respect to the receptacle 9 inthe opening direction. This facilitates opening of the container.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

1 Piston

2 Gripping piece

3 Lance

4 Passage

5 Cylinder

6 Partition

7 Incision

8 Web

9 Receptacle

10 Bead

11 Plastic bridge

12 Piston section

13 Extensions

14 Latching lugs

15 Recesses

16 Section

17 Groove

18 Holder

19 Projections

20 First sealing lip

21 Second sealing lip

KU Piston lower side

LA Lance axis

KA Piston axis

l Length of the incision

h Height of the first chamber

K1 First chamber

K2 Second chamber

b1 Width of the gripping piece

b2 Width of the incision

A1 First section

A2 Second section

A3 Third section

As Shoulder

W1, W2 Helical section

What is claimed is:
 1. A cap for containers for holding a mixture to beproduced from two components, having a cylinder (5) with an open end andan end closed by a partition (6) which can be perforated, a piston (1)having a gripping piece (2) of larger design than the cylinder diameterbeing inserted into the open end of the cylinder, so that a firstchamber (K1) having a height (h) is formed between a lower side (KU) ofthe piston, lying opposite the gripping piece (2) and the partition (6),characterized in that two incisions (7) extending from the open end ofthe cylinder and lying opposite each other are provided in the cylinderwall, and in that the gripping piece (2) is designed in such a mannerthat it can be displaced in the incisions (7) in order to move thepiston (1) in the direction of the partition (6).
 2. The cap accordingto claim 1, the height (h) being smaller than or equal to a length (l)of the incisions (7).
 3. The cap according to claim 1, the grippingpiece (2) being of plate like design.
 4. The cap according to claim 1, ameans for piercing the partition (6) being provided on the piston lowerside (KU).
 5. The cap according to claim 4, the means for piercing beinga lance (3) or a beveled piston section (12).
 6. The cap according toclaim 1, a radially encircling sealing means, being provided on thepiston (1).
 7. The cap according to claim 1, the piston (1) and thegripping piece (2) having an axial passage (4).
 8. The cap according toclaim 1, the piston (1) being produced in an integral design with thegripping piece (2) from injection molded plastic.
 9. The cap accordingto claim 1, the gripping piece (2) and the cylinder (5) being connectedto a bridge (11) which can be severed and is preferably produced fromplastic.
 10. The cap according to claim 1, a radially encircling flangelike web (8) being provided on the outer wall of the cylinder (5). 11.The cap according to claim 1, a plurality of grooves (17) being providedon the outer wall of the cylinder (5), the plurality of grooves runningaxially.
 12. The cap according to claim 1, the piston having extensions(13), the extensions having latching lugs (14) for engagement inrecesses (15) of the container, the recesses being provided on theincisions (7) attached to the gripping piece (2).
 13. The cap accordingto claim 1, the cylinder (5) having a radially extending projection onthe outer wall in the vicinity of each incision (7).
 14. A containerhaving a cap according to claim 1, the container having a receptacle (9)of essentially cylindrical design, and the cap being inserted in asealing manner into the receptacle (9), with the result that thepartition (6) closes a second chamber (K2) formed in the receptacle (9).15. The container according to claim 14, the opening edge of thereceptacle (9) being designed in the form of two helical sections (W1,W2) placed against each other in each case by a shoulder (As).
 16. Thecontainer according to claim 14, the receptacle (9) having a first,essentially cylindrical section (A1), a conical section (A2) and asecond cylindrical section (A3) adjoining the latter.
 17. The containeraccording to claim 16, the conical section (A2) of the receptacle (9)being of a shape which corresponds to a conically designed end of thecylinder (5) in the vicinity of the partition (6).
 18. The containeraccording to claim 17, a plurality of grooves (17) running axially beingprovided on the inner wall of the receptacle (9), preferably in theregion of the first cylindrical section (A1).
 19. The cap of claim 6,the radially encircling sealing means being a sealing lip (20) or anO-ring.